Stressed Out but I keep on going

Some months are more fustrating than others, some weeks are great. However the last couple of weeks have been rough. Sometimes I feel helpless with my sons bipolar issues. I wish that I could take away his pain and mood swings or the way he feels inside when manic, and I know I can't. I try to teach him the necessary coping skils and life skills to help him through the tough times, but he doesn't have as much determination to fight the demons that burden him as I do. Sometimes he does, but not this past couple of weeks.

I think Mondays are a hard day form him. Every week, it seems in the past three weeks he has a hard time getting up and going. Today he feels too depressed to go to school, I asked him to try and make it through but the talk ended up in tears and then a horrible headache and he wanted to be left alone. Since my boyfriend is still currently looking for a job, (which is added stress for the both of us ) he stayed home with my son today. He is working on getting my son to move around when he feels down and emotional. So far my boyfriend has gotten him to draw and eat a little. Over the weekend he was an eating machine, which clued me in that he was about to experiance a low mood soon. Last week he was cranky, and argumentive. The week before he had no motivation, this week is a combonation of hyper, angry, whiny, argumentive, teary and irrational. Not to mention accepting of the word no.

This weekend was very stressful, my son hard a hard time with sitting still and needed constant attention, he didn't want to be alone. He was constantly following me around the house and would stand so close to me that if I backed up or stop one of us would have fell over. So i decieded since he seemed lonely and needy We would do alot of activities together, it was nice and cool outside so we played tennis( not the right way but close enough) and to burn off some of his energy we went to the zoo. Which we had a great time, there was a lot to see and plenty of walking up and down hills, I choose the hilly was just to make sure he would be tired later and actually go to bed before 12am. Once the zoo was done, though his feet were tired and aching he wanted to play video games, but I stood my ground and told him no because so far with all the tardies he has too class he hasn't earned game time. Plus he becomes extremely addicted to games if he is given too much time to play, mainly because the games provide escape from day to day life and there is no pressure of fitting in. One of the main things he needs to learn is coping with everyday life and it's stress, my son chooses advoidance and that is why he continues with day treatment and therapy, he has picked up some coping skills, but he doesn't use them consistantly. Hygene though is improving.

While at work he has phoned 3 times, not so much to ask for things but because he needs to talk. I asked him that since my boyfriend was there (and they have a great relationship) why he needed me right now, and he said because he was feeling down. I gave him a pep talk . Do not know what the rest of the day will bring, but I am hoping for a little peace so I can continue gathering information for the upcoming IEP.

www.bipolarcentral.com